Louis Napoléon BONAPARTE, future Napoléon III (1808-1873) Sketches of birds, insects, soldiers and people Six pen and wash drawings on paper Verso: an important note from Valérie Masuyer, lady-in-waiting to Queen Hortense, dated 21 November 1836, recounting the circumstances in which this drawing was made on 24 October 1836, a few days before the Strasbourg conspiracy, during an evening in the company of her mother, Queen Hortense, when the days were still happy. 20 x 33 cm Provenance : Former Forbes collection. A sketches of birds, insects, soldiers and figures, six drawings, by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, future Napoléon III Commentary: From the first circle of the young prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte's entourage, this drawing was made by the future Emperor a few days before the attempted uprising of the Strasbourg garrison with the help of the 4th artillery, whose colonel, Vaudrey, was close to the prince. The attempt quickly failed. The note was written after the attempt had failed, but on the same day that Louis-Napoléon was released and exiled to the United States. His companions were acquitted in January. Louis Napoléon BONAPARTE, future Napoléon III (1808-1873)